Pivoting part-removal apparatus and method for inboard unloading of injection molded parts

Abstract

An apparatus and method for removing molded parts from a mold having cores arranged in at least two columns on a core plate. A pivoting part-removal device, preferably attached to the core plate between columns of cores, pivots parts from a column of cores to a chute located between columns of cores. The removal device has at least one pivoting arm with a part-gripping suction cup. The chute maintains an orientation of parts as they move along the chute. Parts from two columns of cores can be deposited in an interlaced arrangement into one chute. In one embodiment, the parts are translated as they are pivoted to facilitate the interlacing when the cores in adjacent columns are not staggered. In another embodiment, used when the part sidewalls are high with a low draft angle, the parts are moved straight off the cores a distance before pivoting them.

1 . A mold plate assembly comprising: 
 a core plate adapted to support, in use, a plurality of cores configured in at least two columns of cores;    at least one part-removal device coupled to the core plate and operative between a first position at which the part-removal device, in use, selectively engages a molded part formed on a core on the core plate, and a second position inboard of the core at which the molded part is released; and    wherein the core plate is further adapted to receive, in use, a chute portion couplable to the core plate at the second position, such that the chute portion, in use, receives molded parts provided by the removal device in a predetermined orientation.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one chute portion attached to the core plate and located between the columns of cores, the at least one chute portion, in use, receiving molded parts from the part-removal device.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an opposing mold plate opposite the core plate, the opposing mold plate having a complementary chute portion attached to it which cooperates with the chute portion attached to the core plate when the core plate and mold plate come together so as to form a chute having a profile that maintains the orientation of the parts as they move along the chute.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the removal device comprises a plurality of swing arms pivotally connected to the core plate.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each swing arm has an end with at least one suction cup that selectively grasps and releases the part.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each swing arm is attached to a rotatable shaft connected to the core plate and located adjacent and generally parallel to one of the columns of cores, the shaft facilitating pivoting motion of the swing arms attached thereto.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the swing arms pivot approximately 180 degrees between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the shaft is rotated by a reversible drive apparatus.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the reversible drive apparatus includes one of: 
 a rack and pinion gear connected to the shaft;    a servo motor connected to the shaft; and    a linkage and cam operated by the motion of the molding machine.    
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft is moved axially as it rotates thereby translating the swing arms attached thereto as it pivots.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the shaft has a drum cam attached that causes the shaft to move axially as it rotates.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the core plate has an upper surface from which, in use, the plurality of cores extend, and a portion of the removal device is positioned below the upper surface of the core plate in the second position.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft is attached to a translation mechanism that moves the shaft laterally away from the core plate when the swing arms are at the first position before the shaft begins to rotate.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the translation mechanism is a plate disposed in a cavity in the core plate, the plate being reciprocatingly moved in the cavity by a drive device connected to the plate.  
     
     
         15 . An assembly for removing molded parts from a mold in a plastic molding machine, the mold having a plurality of cores arranged in at least two columns on a core plate, the assembly comprising: 
 at least one chute attached to the mold and located between columns of cores, the chute being constructed and arranged to maintain an orientation of parts deposited therein as the parts move along the chute; and    a removal device that positively engages and grasps a molded part, removes it from the core, and deposits it in the at least one chute.    
     
     
         16 . An assembly for removing molded parts from a mold in a plastic molding machine, the mold having a plurality of cores arranged in at least two columns on a core plate, the assembly comprising: 
 at least one chute portion and an associated pivoting part-removal device attached to the core plate, each chute portion and associated part-removal device being disposed between a pair of columns of cores, the pivoting part-removal device including a rotatable shaft with at least one swing arm attached to the shaft, each swing arm having an end with at least one suction cup that positively engages and grasps a molded part on a core, the shaft being driven to move the at least one swing arm between a first position at which the part is engaged and grasped on the core and a second position at which the part is released in the chute portion.    
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each chute portion has a pair of the pivoting part-removal devices associated with it, each removal device servicing one of the columns of cores such that parts from two columns of cores are deposited into the chute portion in an interlaced arrangement.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising an opposing mold plate opposite the core plate, the opposing mold plate having a complementary chute portion attached to it which cooperates with the chute portion attached to the core plate when the core plate and mold plate come together so as to form a chute having a profile that maintains the orientation of the parts as they move along the chute.  
     
     
         19 . A method of removing molded parts from cores arranged in at least two columns on a core plate in a plastic molding machine, the method comprising the steps of: 
 grasping the molded parts on the cores with a removal device;    moving the parts to a chute located between two adjacent columns of cores; and    releasing the parts in the chute so that the parts move along the chute in a manner that maintains an orientation of the part in the chute.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of moving the parts is accomplished by pivoting the parts from the cores to the chute.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein parts from two adjacent columns of cores are deposited in an interlaced arrangement in the chute.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the parts from one column of cores are moved laterally relative to the parts from another column of cores as the parts are pivoted to facilitate interlacing of the parts from both columns of cores at the chute.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of moving the parts includes the sub step of moving the parts straight off the cores a distance before pivoting them.